OREANDA-NEWS. June 22, 2011. Tata  Steel awarded the Jyoti Fellowship and Moodie Endowment scholarships to  meritorious SC/ ST students at a ceremony held at Michael John Auditorium.  Crossing another milestone in supporting education, the Jyoti Fellowship was  awarded to a total of 308 students while 120 students received the Moodie  Endowment scholarship.

The  Jyoti Fellowship, in vogue since 1970s and christened only in 2003-04, extends  financial support to deserving students from East Singbhum, West Singbhum and  Seraikela districts of Jharkhand. It has become an intrinsic part of Tata Steel  ever since the Company embraced the Affirmative Action Policy in 2006. Students  from Inter, Degree, P G (general streams), LLB, B Ed, Polytechnic, Hotel  Management, MBA, Masters in RD/Social Work, Agriculture and Forestry are  selected after a rigorous screening process. This year the total amount awarded  as part of Jyoti Fellowship is Rs 16,73,500/-, whereby students have been  awarded scholarship money between Rs 3500 and Rs 25,000/-, based on their  criteria and eligibility.

The  Moodie Endowment, funded by Mr Finlay Moodie and Mrs Sheila Ann Moodie of Great  Britain, extends support to students from Purulia, Bankura and Midnapur  districts of West Bengal as well. This scholarship is extended to students from  Medical, Engineering, MCA, Polytechnic, Microbiology and Biotechnology streams  in different levels as Diploma level - Rs.8000/-, Degree - Rs.12000/- and P.G –  Rs 12000/- 15000/-.

Addressing  the gathering, Mr Bimlendra Jha, Vice President (Long Products), Tata Steel, said, "Tata Steel's mantra of creating a  difference in society needs to be carried forward by all awardees of today as  well. Each of them should strive to create such an impact in society which  shall urge many others like them to put in the best of efforts and be  benefitted by these awards." Reiterating his statement, Mr Rakeshwar  Pandey, President, Tribal Culture Society Employee Union said, "Looking at the need of the hour to educate  our present generation, this is indeed a noble act on part of Tata Steel to  extend financial aid to deserving candidates. Besides ensuring unhindered  education for the awardees, this will also motivate others to follow suit."

Mr.  Bhogla Soren, Sahitya Academy Awardee in Santhali Literature, reiterated Tata  Steel's commitment and its Founder's dream for the city saying, "Tata Steel has molded the city and its  peripheral areas and has been a key driving factor of growth and development of  its people. The company's initiative towards recognizing and thereafter development  of SC/ ST students is remarkable."

Tata  Steel triggered the wave of industrialisation in India, when it started its  operations in the state of Jharkhand, more than 100 years ago. It was based on  the principals laid down by its Founder, J N Tata, that in a free enterprise,  the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact, the  very purpose of our existence. Following this ideal, Tata Steel has created  benchmarks for tribal development and that of the communities in its  operational areas.